Sunday, July 17, 2011

The SECRET

This afternoon, after putting Katherine in "time-out," I asked her to explain to me why she there. After a few seconds of deliberation she shrugged her shoulders and said, "I don't know." I then explained to her that I had given her a "time-out" consequence because she had disobeyed me (and yes...I do use the word disobey with my three-year old and she has definitely grown to understand the word quite well...LOL.). I then proceded to tell her "Katherine you need to obey mommy "first time, every time" and then you will not experience the consequences of disobedience.

It was at that moment that I felt God speak those very words to my heart. He said, listen to the words that you are speaking to your daughter, listen to the expectations that you have of her. I then asked myself, "do I follow these expectations when my heavenly father tells me to comply with them, "first time, every time?" Hmmm...I thought to myself.

"No" was the dreaded answer I heard in my head. I then thought what would my world look like if I did obey his every command..."first time, every time." I once read something that shocked me after I thought about it; it said, "delayed obedience, is disobedience." Wow, to me that was quite a powerful statement(given that I was once a terrible procrastinator...not that I have perfected it by any means, but I am much better), realizing that most of the time it wasn't until push came to shove that I would do things that needed to be finished way before I ever completed them. Many times my disobedience caused me problems in many areas of my life, i.e. school, finances, and even friendships.

As I read Paul's words in Philippians 2:13, "for God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him," last night and again tonight it occurred to me that all I want for my daughter to do is desire to be obedient and do what pleases me; as my Father God wants just the same.

Being obedient isn't easy by any means, but when we truly want to be as Christ was to his father; then we must pray and ask our Daddy to help us in our struggles. He wants to come alongside of us and be with us. When we ask, he helps us to desire to obey him and then he gives us the power to do what he wants. The SECRET to a changed life is to submit to God's control and let Him work.

It has been amazing to me how once I surrended my procrastination and began to obey and obey...it was then that I gained God's desire to do what He wanted me to do. Allowing God to work in my life in that way has given me the freedom to be bold, courageous and outspoken in my faith. For I am not perfect, but I strive to live my life to think and be like Christ. "First time, every time" is the obedience that our Daddy wants from us.

We are not perfect (even though in some moments we wish we were), but we must repent and begin to ask our Daddy to help us in the areas that we are weak. As Him to help you to desire and give you the power to obey when He calls upon you.

Shine brightly in this world for Christ through your obedience. Maybe there are others that struggle in the same areas of weaknesses that you do; when you begin to ask the Lord for His desires for your life and you begin to have victory after victory after victory in those areas, it is then that you can encourage others that they too can have victory in their lives. Allow your SECRET to shine brightly, so they too can be another light in this world.

1 comment:

  1. My dad always told me to obey quickly, quietly and with a good attitude. That meshes well with your theme of first time, every time - although your theme is much simpler! :)
    -Mel

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